The SFA's disciplinary committee were due to meet at Hampden on Monday to discuss the Celtic boss's appeal against an automatic two-match ban for being sent to the stand by referee Craig Thomson during the defeat against Hearts on November 10.

An "excessive misconduct" charge for his reaction to a rejected penalty claim and subsequent dismissal were also to be discussed but, had the automatic ban been upheld, Lennon would have had to watch from the stand for the home game against Motherwell on January 29 and the New Year trip to Ibrox.

However, adverse weather has led to the meeting being cancelled until probably January, leaving Lennon clear to fully carry out his managerial duties over the festive season.

The length of delay between crime and punishment at the SFA was addressed by former First Minister Henry McLeish in his damning Review of Scottish Football yesterday which, among a host of recommendations, called for a reduction in committees and a speeding up of disciplinary matters at the SFA.

Lennon confirmed the SFA had written to him with regards his excessive misconduct charge.

The former Hoops skipper added: "I don't want to comment too much on the ins and outs of what goes on at the SFA at the minute, I might have more to say after Monday.

"It's all new to me. When you get yourself in a bit of trouble you get letters coming in from different committees, it can be a bit confusing sometimes but I'm learning as I go along."

However, Lennon has other worries for the Celtic's trip to Ibrox.

He confirmed that Shaun Maloney will be out for up to four months after undergoing ankle surgery while defender Glenn Loovens is out for a month for a knee problem.

In addition, the Parkhead club could be without their two South Korea internationals, Ki Sung-yueng and Cha Du-ri, who have been called up by their country to take part in the Asian Cup, which begins in January.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed his South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung will miss seven matches once he flies back home after the Boxing Day clash with Sunderland.

However, Celtic will battle to keep their two Asian players until after the trip to Govan.

"We are hoping that we can delay the guys going away until after Ibrox," Lennon said. "We are in talks with the South Korean FA over that."

Lennon rebuffed reports that he wants to take Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland on loan in January, claiming defenders were his priority.

"We are looking at areas where we can improve the squad but I wouldn't say he (Ireland) is a candidate or anything like that," he said.

"There is a lot of names being thrown at us from clubs and agents and it would be unfair to talk about individuals.

"Defence? It is an area we are trying to improve on since the start of the season.

"We couldn't do it in August and again and we will go back to that, hopefully, in January."

"More immediately, Celtic have the chance to go top of the league with a win at Hamilton tomorrow.

"It is an important period for us," Lennon said.

"Of all the teams we have played its season they have caused us the most problems, particularly early on in the game at Parkhead, when we had to rely on the goalkeeper to make some very good saves.

"In previous encounter at Hamilton they have always been cagey affairs and tomorrow will be no different."

Meanwhile, Lennon admitted he had not read McLeish`s recommendations in detail but was behind the proposal to bring back the winter break.

He said: "The crux of it is when you are going to have it. You can't predict the weather here, that's for sure.

"But I do feel it's time to bring the winter break back.

"We had it a few years ago when I was still playing and we felt it was very beneficial to the players and the club in general."